NAME

       CURLOPT_CUSTOMREQUEST - custom request method

SYNOPSIS

       #include <curl/curl.h>

       CURLcode curl_easy_setopt(CURL *handle, CURLOPT_CUSTOMREQUEST, char *method);

DESCRIPTION

       Pass a pointer to a null-terminated string as parameter.

       When  changing  the  request  method  by setting CURLOPT_CUSTOMREQUEST(3), you do not actually change how
       libcurl behaves or acts: you only change the actual string sent in the request.

       libcurl passes on the verbatim string in its request without  any  filter  or  other  safe  guards.  That
       includes white space and control characters.

       Restore to the internal default by setting this to NULL.

       This option can be used to specify the request:

       HTTP   Instead  of  GET  or  HEAD  when  performing HTTP based requests. This is particularly useful, for
              example, for performing an HTTP DELETE request.

              For example:

              When you tell libcurl to do a HEAD request, but then specify a GET though a custom request libcurl
              still acts as if it sent a HEAD. To switch to a proper HEAD use CURLOPT_NOBODY(3), to switch to  a
              proper  POST  use  CURLOPT_POST(3)  or  CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS(3)  and  to  switch to a proper GET use
              CURLOPT_HTTPGET(3).

              Many people have wrongly used this option to replace the entire request with their own,  including
              multiple headers and POST contents. While that might work in many cases, it might cause libcurl to
              send  invalid  requests and it could possibly confuse the remote server badly. Use CURLOPT_POST(3)
              and CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS(3) to set POST data. Use CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER(3) to replace or extend the set
              of headers sent by libcurl. Use CURLOPT_HTTP_VERSION(3) to change HTTP version.

       FTP    Instead of LIST and NLST when performing FTP directory listings.

       IMAP   Instead of LIST when issuing IMAP based requests.

       POP3   Instead of LIST and RETR when issuing POP3 based requests.

              For example:

              When you tell libcurl to use a custom request it behaves like a LIST  or  RETR  command  was  sent
              where  it expects data to be returned by the server. As such CURLOPT_NOBODY(3) should be used when
              specifying commands such as DELE and NOOP for example.

       SMTP   Instead of a HELP or VRFY when issuing SMTP based requests.

              For example:

              Normally  a  multi  line  response  is  returned  which  can  be   used,   in   conjunction   with
              CURLOPT_MAIL_RCPT(3),  to  specify  an  EXPN request. If the CURLOPT_NOBODY(3) option is specified
              then the request can be used to issue NOOP and RSET commands.

DEFAULT

       NULL

PROTOCOLS

       This functionality affects ftp, http, imap, pop3 and smtp

EXAMPLE

       int main(void)
       {
         CURL *curl = curl_easy_init();
         if(curl) {
           CURLcode res;
           curl_easy_setopt(curl, CURLOPT_URL, "https://example.com/foo.bin");

           /* DELETE the given path */
           curl_easy_setopt(curl, CURLOPT_CUSTOMREQUEST, "DELETE");

           res = curl_easy_perform(curl);

           curl_easy_cleanup(curl);
         }
       }

AVAILABILITY

       Added in curl 7.1

RETURN VALUE

       Returns CURLE_OK if the option is supported, CURLE_UNKNOWN_OPTION if not, or CURLE_OUT_OF_MEMORY if there
       was insufficient heap space.

SEE ALSO

       CURLINFO_EFFECTIVE_METHOD(3), CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER(3), CURLOPT_NOBODY(3), CURLOPT_REQUEST_TARGET(3)

libcurl                                            2024-12-11                           CURLOPT_CUSTOMREQUEST(3)